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  • Why won’t Diddy’s trial be televised?

    Why won’t Diddy’s trial be televised?

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    O.J. Simpson. Johnny Depp. Michael Jackson.

    America’s fascination with celebrity is perhaps only topped by the intrigue when one such celebrity goes on trial.

    At the nexus of Hollywood and the judicial system, the oft-televised proceedings present the ultimate spectacle, as the dirty laundry of society’s most famous names becomes available by court order for public consumption.

    The trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs promises to be no different, as the disgraced music mogul faces federal charges for racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution.

    But unlike in the cases of Depp or Simpson, eager trial watchers will have to rely on courtroom sketches and reporter dispatches from inside, as cameras have been shut out of the proceedings.

    Why won’t the Diddy trial be televised?

    Because Combs faces federal criminal charges, the presence of “electronic media” is expressly banned by a procedural rule passed in 1946.

    Entitled Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, the statute bars both photographs and broadcasting from the courtroom of a federal criminal trial. R. Kelly’s federal criminal trial, on similar charges, was also not televised.

    The rules around federal civil proceedings are slightly more flexible, allowing for recording in some instances at the discretion of the judge. Some criminal trials at the state level, like in the closely watched case of Alex Murdaugh, allow for cameras in the courtroom.

    When does Diddy’s trial start?

    Combs’ trial, which will take place in downtown Manhattan, is currently set to begin May 5 with jury selection. The trial’s start date is the same day as the Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, just miles away from the courthouse.

    On multiple occasions, Combs attended the exclusive annual gala, benefitting the museum’s Costume Institute. 

    What charges does Diddy face?

    Diddy is charged with two counts of sex trafficking, two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution and one count of racketeering.

    Racketeering is the participation in an illegal scheme under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Statute, or RICO, as a way for the U.S. government to prosecute organizations contributing to criminal activity.

    Using RICO law, which is typically aimed at targeting multi-person criminal organizations, prosecutors allege that Combs coerced victims, some of whom they say were sex workers, through intimidation and narcotics to participate in “freak offs” — sometimes dayslong sex performances that federal prosecutors claim they have video of.

    Contributing: Jay Stahl, Taijuan Moorman, KiMi Robinson, Edward Segarra, USA TODAY

  • ‘Little House on the Prairie’ casts new Laura, Melissa Gilbert shares

    ‘Little House on the Prairie’ casts new Laura, Melissa Gilbert shares

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    Netflix’s reboot of the “Little House on the Prairie” has found its new little Laura.

    Melissa Gilbert, who starred as the original Laura Ingalls, took to Instagram on May 2 to help the streaming service share the casting news of the new show’s first cast member Alice Halsey.

    Gilbert starred in the original version of the popular NBC show, which premiered in 1974 and still boasts a cult following in present day. The program, based on the books by Laura Ingalls Wilder, inspired a generation of women and celebrated its 50th anniversary last year with dozens of fan events across America. 

    “And…here she is. Wising them and @thealicehalsey all the luck in the world!!” Gilbert captioned the heartfelt post. “Netflix’s new Little House on the Prairie series has found its Laura Ingalls! We are so thrilled to announce that Alice Halsey will be playing the iconic role of Laura Ingalls. Please give her a warm welcome to the Little House family!”

    Gilbert added in her caption that “The ‘Little House’ books endure to this day because so many people see themselves in Laura. She is a disruptor. Honest to a fault. Questions authority. And she’s our window into this adventure.”

    Halsey is an alum of the Golden Globe-nominated miniseries “Lessons in Chemistry,” starring Brie Larson, and the long-running NBC soap opera “Days of Our Lives,” which now airs on streaming service Peacock.

    Gilbert spoke to USA TODAY about how “Little House” changed a generation of young people, in an interview published in April 2024.

    “The thing that moves me the most is when people tell me the stories of how ‘Little House on the Prairie’ impacted their lives, what their childhoods were like, and why it was so important to them,” Gilbert told USA TODAY. “A lot of people have said – and I’m sure will continue to say to me – ‘Look, you were my escape from a bad childhood.’ … We taught a lot of lessons and provided a lot of escapist entertainment.”

    Netflix ‘Little House’ will feature fresh take on beloved franchise

    Earlier this year, Netflix announced that it would produce its own version of “Little House” based on Ingalls Wilder’s beloved books.

    “The new ‘Little House on the Prairie’ is part family drama, part epic survival tale, and part origin story of the American West. The series will offer a kaleidoscopic view of the struggles and triumphs of those who shaped the frontier,” a press release read about Netflix’s fresh take on the tried-and-true program.

    Contributing: Laura Trujillo

  • What is a Black dandy?

    What is a Black dandy?

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    This year’s Met Gala will pay homage to a lesser-known element of fashion history.

    With a nod to menswear, the dress code for this year’s event is “Tailored for You,” while the theme is “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.”

    The theme will coincide with the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s exhibit of the same name, on view May 10 to Oct. 26 and inspired by Monica L. Miller’s 2009 book, “Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity.” The exhibition will explore “the importance of style to the formation of Black identities in the Atlantic diaspora,” particularly in the United States and Europe, and interpret “dandyism” as both an aesthetic and a socio-political strategy through garments, art and other objects from the 18th century to the present.

    Here’s what to know about dandyism as a concept and how fashion’s biggest stars may interpret this year’s theme.

    What is a Black dandy, and what is ‘dandyism’?

    Dandyism is characterized by an intense focus on aesthetics. Black dandyism began emerging as far back as 1700s England, when slave owners who wanted to flaunt their wealth began dressing their slaves in expensive clothing, creating a “dandified black servant” or “luxury slave” trend, according to Miller, a professor at Columbia University who also serves as the Met’s guest curator for this exhibit.

    Black men read the room, recognizing the power dynamics clothing signaled, and began making their involuntary uniforms their own. Black dandyism became a practice in which Black people used the power of clothing, personal style and even humor and wit as a form of resistance, and a way for them to push back on societal limitations and negative perceptions not just in terms of race, but also class, gender and sexuality.

    At its core, the Black dandy figure uses fashion and aesthetics to engage in these power dynamics, highlighting the importance of personal style in shaping one’s identity.

    “Dandyism can seem frivolous, but it often poses a challenge to or a transcendence of social and cultural hierarchies,” said Miller in a Feb. 4 statement, per Vogue. “It asks questions about identity, representation, and mobility in relation to race, class, gender, sexuality, and power.”

    2025 Met Gala inspiration: Think André 3000, co-chair Colman Domingo

    Miller points to historic figure Julius Soubise, a freed slave and 18th-century London socialite described as a “sartorial impresario,” as an example of the Black dandy. But there are modern-day examples, from Prince, André Leon Talley and André 3000 to hip-hop fashion icon Dapper Dan and designer LaQuan Smith.

    Tyler, the Creator and Met Gala co-chairs Pharrell Williams and Colman Domingo are some other notable figures who lean into the aesthetic, as well as women like Met Gala host committee member Janelle Monáe and singer Solange, who both often play with bold patterns and colors as well as traditional dandyism: polished silhouettes, tailored suits and structured styles.

    Vogue’s May 2025 covers offered more design direction, with shots of Met co-chairs A$AP Rocky, Lewis Hamilton and Domingo, as well as an assortment of other stars including Yara Shahidi, Aaron Pierre, Teyana Taylor, Jon Batiste and others. As Monáe and Lakeith Stanfield put it, it’s all about “individuality” and “freedom.”

    So how will the stars take on the “Tailoring Black Style” theme? We’ll have to wait until May 5 to find out.

    Contributing: Edward Segarra

  • Prince Harry says he wants ‘reconciliation’ with King Charles, family

    Prince Harry says he wants ‘reconciliation’ with King Charles, family

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    Prince Harry is speaking out about how he “would love a reconciliation” with the royal family in an emotional and explosive interview following a lost legal challenge in the U.K.

    The Duke of Sussex told BBC News that father King Charles III “won’t speak to me because of this security stuff,” adding that that he no longer wants to fight with his family.

    He also told the British outlet, during an interview in California, “I don’t know how much longer my father has.” Charles, 76, who recently battled cancer, said earlier this week that the disease helped show him “the very best of humanity.”

    “I can’t see a world in which I would bring my wife and children back to the U.K. at this point,” Harry said after his lost legal challenge May 2 to overturn the British government’s changes to his security detail.

    However, despite the fact that “there have been so many disagreements between myself and some of my family,” Harry said that he has now “forgiven” his fellow royals.

    The court loss directly impacts future U.K. visits for Harry, who sought to overturn a decision made by the Home Office, a government department responsible for policing and security, that said he would not receive personal security detail while in Britain.

    In 2020, the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figure, known as RAVEC, decided Harry would no longer be eligible to receive publicly-funded security protection provided by the state. The decision has long been criticized by the former working royal, who announced he would step away from his official duties alongside his American-born wife, Duchess Meghan, in January 2020.

    In an apparent reference to his mother Princess Diana’s 1997 death, Harry told the BBC: “I don’t want history to repeat itself.”

    Prince Harry criticizes Buckingham Palace for co-signing security decision

    On May 2, Harry issued a lengthy statement denouncing the Court of Appeals’ May 2 ruling upholding the decision about his U.S. security.

    “I want to start by thanking my legal team and the Court of Appeal Judges for their time and expertise in unravelling this issue that stemmed from the previous government,” his statement began. “This process has only ever been about ensuring my safety and that of my immediate family when we are in in the United Kingdom, so that we may safely visit my home country with the same level of security that other governments deem necessary for our protection.”

    He added: “My ask has been simple: that the standard protocols for security and risk assessments be applied to me in the same way they are to others — including people who have never carried out any public functions on behalf of the State.”

    Harry maintained that RAVEC “has failed to follow its own mandated processes for me, which are applied to all other high-risk and high-profile individuals,” and vowed to appeal to the Home Secretary “to ask her to urgently examine the matter and review the RAVEC process.”

    In the statement, the Duke of Sussex again criticized the 2020 decision, which resulted in “stripping me of the protection I’ve had since birth, whilst signaling to all other governments to do the same.”

    He continued, “This reckless action knowingly put me and my family in harm’s way. Life is precious and I understand the fragility of it.”

    The statement claimed “this legal action has been a last resort” and he at first “attempted to resolve this issue privately, even offering to independently cover the costs of necessary and effective police protection in order to keep me and my family safe.” Harry also took aim at the royal household, alleging it could have RAVEC conduct a “risk, threat and impact assessment” regarding Harry’s security “at any point.”

    He concluded: “The only possible conclusion that can be drawn is they choose not to, because they know the outcome would prove that my security should never have been removed in the first place.”

    What was the ruling on Prince Harry’s UK security?

    In a statement regarding Harry’s legal case, Buckingham Palace said: “All of these issues have been examined repeatedly and meticulously by the courts, with the same conclusion reached on each occasion.”

    The Home Office said it welcomed the decision: “The U.K. government’s protective security system is rigorous and proportionate.”

    Judge Geoffrey Vos said Harry’s lawyer had made “powerful and moving arguments” about the impact of the decision about his security.

    “It was plain that the Duke of Sussex felt badly treated by the system, but I conclude – having studied the detail of the extensive documentation – I could not say that the duke’s sense of grievance translated into a legal argument for the challenge to RAVEC’s decision,” he told the court.

    Last year, the High Court in London ruled the decision was lawful. That ruling was later upheld by three senior Court of Appeal judges.

    Prince Harry lawyer said his ‘life is at stake’ from security changes

    In a story published in April, Harry opened up to People magazine about the security ordeal, telling the outlet he was “exhausted and overwhelmed” from a two-day appeal hearing surrounding the British government’s 2020 ruling.

    The magazine reported that Harry believes that his security was removed to draw him and Meghan back to the U.K. after they retreated to Meghan’s home stage of California, calling the security issue “difficult to swallow.”

    Harry told People that his “worst fears have been confirmed by the whole legal disclosure in this case — and that’s really sad.” On April 9, Harry’s lawyer warned his life was in danger over the security changes during the prince’s two-day visit to London’s Royal Courts of Justice for his appeal.

    “One must not forget the human dimension to this case: There is a person sitting behind me whose safety, whose security and whose life is at stake,” his lawyer Shaheed Fatima told the court as Harry looked on.

    Harry’s legal loss comes amid his and Meghan’s return to public life

    Harry’s legal loss comes as he has made a fully-fledged return to public life alongside Duchess Meghan.

    After a rocky start to post-royal life, with the pair’s infamous bombshell Oprah interview and mixed reviews about his tell-all book “Spare,” Harry and Meghan have seemingly found their footing. The parents to son Prince Archie, 5, and 3-year-old daughter Princess Lilibet have started careers in entertainment through their shared brand Archewell.

    In 2025, Meghan reemerged with a pair of pre-Harry-inspired pursuits: a Netflix show, “With Love,” and a companion lifestyle brand, As Ever. Before meeting Harry, she was the curator of a successful lifestyle blog, The Tig. She also hosts a popular new podcast “Confessions of a Female Founder.”

    Harry, too, is set to become a Netflix star soon and produce a program for the streaming service that will gives viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the world of professional polo, his beloved sport, at the U.S. Open Polo Championship in Wellington, Florida.

    Meghan and Harry starred in the four-part docuseries “Harry & Meghan,” which followed their exit from royal life and recounted their side of what happened behind the palace doors.

    Contributing: Reuters

  • Date, theme, how to watch and celebrity hosts

    Date, theme, how to watch and celebrity hosts

    The aesthetic of this year’s Met Gala in three words? Pure Black excellence.

    The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s annual fashion extravaganza is back, and this time, the event is paying homage to the debonair flair of Black menswear and its evolution over the centuries.

    Celebrity attendees and their high-fashion ateliers will be tasked with reimagining the Black “dandy” for their gala attire. Defined as a “man unduly devoted to style,” the term became associated with Black men in 18th-century Europe as a trend of smartly dressed servant staff emerged.

    “Dandyism offered Black people an opportunity to use clothing, gesture, irony, and wit to transform their given identities and imagine new ways of embodying political and social possibilities,” a previous release from the Met stated.

    Here’s the sartorial 411 on fashion’s biggest night.

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    Met Gala 2024: Zendaya’s outfit change, Usher explains his look

    The stars were out at the 2024 Met Gala. USA TODAY’s Anika Reed had a front row seat to the action and chatted with Usher about his look.

    When is the Met Gala 2025?

    Held on the first Monday of May, the 2025 Met Gala will take place May 5.

    Who is hosting Met Gala 2025?

    The co-chairs for the 2025 Met Gala are singer-songwriter and fashion designer Pharrell Williams, Oscar-nominated actor Colman Domingo, Grammy-nominated rapper A$AP Rocky and British racecar driver Lewis Hamilton.

    Meanwhile, NBA superstar LeBron James will serve as an honorary co-chair, and Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour will reprise her presiding co-chair role.

    In addition to the co-chairs, a host committee has also been announced.

    The star-studded group includes the likes of Usher, Regina King, Spike Lee, Simone Biles and husband Jonathan Owens, Janelle Monáe, Doechii, Ayo Edebiri and many more.

    What is the Met Gala?

    The Costume Institute Benefit, commonly known as Met Gala, is a fundraiser for the museum’s Costume Institute, which hosts a collection of over 33,000 fashion artifacts. The 2024 Met Gala raised approximately $26 million, according to The New York Times and The Associated Press.

    What is the Met Gala 2025 theme?

    The theme coincides with the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute’s spring exhibit, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” which the institute describes as a “cultural and historical examination of Black style over three hundred years through the concept of dandyism.”

    Inspired by Monica L. Miller’s 2009 book, “Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity,” the exhibit theme explores how the multicultural blend of African and European styles informed Black identity during the Atlantic diaspora — the mass uprooting of African communities as a result of the slave trade between the 16th and 19th centuries.

    “Dandyism can seem frivolous, but it often poses a challenge to or a transcendence of social and cultural hierarchies,” said Miller in a Feb. 4 statement, per Vogue. “It asks questions about identity, representation, and mobility in relation to race, class, gender, sexuality, and power.”

    What is the dress code for Met Gala 2025?

    In conjunction with the Costume Institute’s “Superfine” exhibit, the dress code for the night is “Tailored for You,” which challenges attendees to put their bespoke spin on the spiffiness of dandyism.

    According to Vogue, the code pays tribute to the exhibit’s menswear focus and is “purposefully designed to provide guidance and invite creative interpretation.”

    Where to watch Met Gala 2025 red carpet

    For those wanting to check out the fierce fashion in real time, the official Met Gala livestream will be broadcast across Vogue’s digital platforms, including the magazine’s official YouTube channel.

    TV network and pop culture hub E! will also be airing a three-and-a-half hour red-carpet special, kicking off at 6 p.m. ET/PT, which will be co-hosted by Zanna Roberts Rassi, Maria Taylor, Elaine Welteroth, Yvonne Orji and fashion designer Christian Siriano.

    A separate livestream special, airing from 6:30-8 p.m. ET, will be available across E!’s social media platforms, E! Online and streaming service Peacock.

    What is 2025 Met’s Costume Institute exhibit?

    The exhibit will be open to the public from May 10 to Oct. 26, per the Met’s official website.

    The fashion expo, sponsored by Louis Vuitton, will interpret the style ethos of dandyism through a curated collection of garments and accessories, paintings, photographs and decorative arts from the 18th century to today.

    Moreover, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” is organized into 12 sections representing the characteristics embodying the dandy aesthetic, such as “Champion, Respectability, Heritage, Beauty and Cosmopolitanism.”

    Contributing: Anna Kaufman and Naledi Ushe, USA TODAY

  • Met Gala taps dandy fashion: Photos of stars who've embraced the styleCelebrities

    Met Gala taps dandy fashion: Photos of stars who've embraced the styleCelebrities

    Met Gala taps dandy fashion: Photos of stars who’ve embraced the styleCelebrities

  • Russell Brand sexual assault charges update: Comedian appears in court

    Russell Brand sexual assault charges update: Comedian appears in court

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    Russell Brand made his first U.K. court appearance ahead of what may be a lengthy trial over charges that he raped and sexually assaulted multiple women.

    In the brief appearance May 2, Brand listened as the charges were laid out and then was granted conditional bail, according to CNN and The New York Times.

    In gold-rimmed aviator shades and a shirt unbuttoned to expose a large swath of his chest, Brand was escorted by police into the courtroom, through throngs of photographers.

    When the hearing was done, he exited into a black Mercedes Benz. Brand has previously denied any wrongdoing.

    Russell Brand charges include rape

    The comedian and actor was charged by London’s Metropolitan Police last month with with rape, indecent assault, oral rape and two counts of sexual assault.

    Detectives in the U.K. began investigating Brand in September 2023 after receiving a number of allegations, a release from authorities revealed at the time. The tips followed a growing body of reporting in the British press that accused Brand of inappropriate sexual behavior.

    Brand later took to Instagram to respond to the charges.

    “We’re very fortunate in a way to live in a time where there’s so little trust in the British government,” he told followers in a video statement. “We’re very fortunate, I suppose, that this is happening at a time where we know that the law has become a kind of weapon to be used against people.”

    The charges stem from a series of alleged incidents in the late 1990s and early 2000s: a rape in 1999, an incidental assault in 2001, an oral rape and sexual assault in 2004 and another sexual assault between 2004 and 2005, according to Metropolitan Police.

    “The women who have made reports continue to receive support from specially trained officers,” Andy Furphy, a detective superintendent with the Metropolitan Police, said in a release at the time of the charges. “The Met’s investigation remains open and detectives ask anyone who has been affected by this case, or anyone who has any information, to come forward and speak with police,” Furphy said.

    Long a controversial figure, Brand has fallen out of public grace amid reports of alleged rape and assaults. In the years since he has taken a religious turn, announcing plans last year to be baptized and using his social media to dip into conspiracy circles, spreading unfounded theories on topics ranging from 9/11 to the COVID vaccine.

    “I’ve always told you guys that when I was young and single before I had my wife and family … I was a fool, man,” Brand continued in his Instagram statement, saying he was a drug and sex addict and even an “imbecile,” but never a rapist.

    “I’ve never engaged in nonconsensual activity, I pray that you can see that by looking in my eyes,” the actor continued, saying he felt “grateful” he would have the opportunity to defend himself in court.

    Russell Brand rape, assault charges follow BBC apology

    The charges against Brand follow a formal apology given by the BBC to employees in January over its handling of harassment complaints against the comedian during his tenure at the network.

    The British news organization published the results of a review into Brand’s conduct, revealing that power dynamics at play created a breeding ground for Brand’s “unacceptable” behavior.

    Brand, who served as a presenter on BBC’s 6 Music and Radio 2 between 2006 and 2008, first fell under scrutiny in 2023 after a spate of women accused the actor of emotional and sexual abuse.

    The accusations of wrongdoing at the BBC included Brand exposing his genitals to a woman in a bathroom shortly before recording a segment for his radio show in which he joked about the encounter. The woman was not a BBC employee but worked in the same building as the company’s Los Angeles bureau.

    Another claim, made by a woman who said she had a three-month relationship with Brand when he was a presenter for Radio 6, alleges he used to have a car pick her up at school or her grandmother’s house and bring her to his home. She was 16 at the time while Brand would have been in his 30s.

    “What is clear is that many BBC staff and freelancers, especially in more junior roles, found Russell Brand demanding and difficult to work with and his behavior extreme, but all felt that there was no point in complaining as they believed they would not be listened to and, rightly or wrongly, that Russell Brand as a high-profile presenter had the support of the station management,” wrote Peter Johnston, the BBC Director of Editorial Complaints and Reviews.

    If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline offers free, confidential, 24/7 support to survivors and their loved ones in English and Spanish at: 800.656.HOPE (4673) and Hotline.RAINN.org and en Español RAINN.org/es.

  • ‘Thunderbolts*,’ stream ‘The Four Seasons’

    ‘Thunderbolts*,’ stream ‘The Four Seasons’

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    Love movies? Live for TV? USA TODAY’s Watch Party newsletter has all the best recommendations, delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now and be one of the cool kids.

    Every big movie franchise should have their own Bad News Bears squad, with misfits, castoffs and underdogs. And in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, that’s the Thunderbolts.

    The new adventure “Thunderbolts*” – and yes, there’s a reason for the asterisk – brings together a bunch of scrappy antiheroes and some of the best actors, like Oscar nominees Florence Pugh and Sebastian Stan and 11-time Emmy winner Julia Louis-Dreyfus. It’s a dark action comedy that appeals beyond the usual Marvel fandom, so you’ll want to catch that. Also, the new Netflix marriage comedy “The Four Seasons” is another starry affair (with Tina Fey, Steve Carell and Colman Domingo) while the controversial Western film “Rust” finally is released after years of legal wrangling and tragedy.

    Now on to the good stuff:

    See Florence Pugh lead Marvel’s latest supergroup in ‘Thunderbolts*’

    The Marvel movies have been a bit of a roller coaster since 2019’s “Avengers: Endgame.” Some really good stuff, others that leaned a little mediocre for the considerable high bar set. Thankfully, “Thunderbolts*” reminds of the early, go-for-broke days of the MCU with a crew of lovable characters – David Harbour is the gift that keeps on giving as ex-Soviet super-soldier Red Guardian – and a meaningful narrative that leans on the superpowers of friendship and empathy. (Peep my ★★★ review. and also my parent’s guide.)

    I talked with some cast members about navigating their characters’ emotional turmoil in “Thunderbolts*” as well as their return in the upcoming “Avengers: Doomsday” movie. Sebastian Stan, a MCU elder statesman, appeared in the last two “Avengers” movies, “Infinity War” and “Endgame,” and those “felt so out of this world in terms of achievement and being able to get all those people together and everything,” he says. “So how do you build from there to this?”

    “Thunderbolts*” also kicks off a big summer movie season, so be sure to check out our preview with exclusive peeks at 15 upcoming films such as “Lilo & Stitch” and “Superman.”

    Stream Tina Fey’s new Netflix dramedy, a remake of ‘The Four Seasons’

    Tina Fey, Steve Carell, Will Forte and Colman Domingo? All in the same show? On paper, the Netflix remake (streaming now) of the cozy 1981 Alan Alda marriage dramedy sounds like a binge-able hit. But TV critic Kelly Lawler is mixed on the story of three couples dealing with relationship issues over one year and four seasonal vacations. In her ★★ review, Kelly writes the show is “as clueless as its characters.”

    The original “Four Seasons” was formative for Fey in her preteen years. “It was basically my version of ‘Twilight’ fan fiction,” she quips to my pal Patrick Ryan in an interview. Making the show, which also features her friend and frequent collaborator Erika Henningsen, proved cathartic for Fey following her mom’s death and daughter’s departure to college. “It definitely kept me in the world,” she says, “because I could have easily kept more and more in my house.”

    Watch Alec Baldwin’s haunted, controversial Western drama ‘Rust’

    My colleague Marco della Cava poses an interesting question in his must-read story about “Rust”: Is it OK to see Alec Baldwin’s Western movie, given that a woman died during filming? In 2021, cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed on the set when a prop gun being held by Baldwin discharged a live bullet. After years of lawsuits and courtroom drama, director Joel Souza (who was also injured in the incident) finished the movie (now in theaters and on demand). According to the director, Hutchins’ family wanted her last work to be seen. “They did not want it to simply vanish,” Souza says via email. “Halyna was on my mind every single day. You could feel that with everyone there.”

    And “Rust” does succeed at being a tribute to Hutchins. It’s a pretty straightforward Western story that has eerie echoes with real life, but also a gorgeously shot film that showcases the talents of both Hutchins and Bianca Cline, who finished the movie after her death. (Peep my ★★½ review.)

    Even more goodness to check out!

    Got thoughts, questions, ideas, concerns, compliments or maybe even some recs for me? Email [email protected] and follow me on the socials: I’m @briantruitt on Bluesky, Instagram and Threads.

  • Watch Jesus in 'The Chosen: Last Supper' trailer: When does it stream?TV

    Watch Jesus in 'The Chosen: Last Supper' trailer: When does it stream?TV

    Watch Jesus in ‘The Chosen: Last Supper’ trailer: When does it stream?TV

  • Jesus throws tables for Season 5 ‘Last Supper’

    Jesus throws tables for Season 5 ‘Last Supper’

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    Rejoice: “The Chosen: Last Supper” has an official streaming date.

    The eight-part fifth season resumes where the previous one left off, capturing a crowd celebrating the arrival in Jerusalem of Jesus (Jonathan Roumie) at the start of the week (known as Palm Sunday) and ending before Jesus’ arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane.

    “Season 5 is our most intense yet,” says Dallas Jenkins, creator of the first multi-season historical drama about Jesus. “There are a million people all in one city, the enemies, the followers, the friends, the believers, the antagonists. They’re all together, and they’re all plotting either for or against Jesus.”

    “This is the season where some of the most iconic moments in history are taking place,” Jenkins says. “You’ve got the triumphal entry into Jerusalem. You’ve got the turning over of the tables in the temple. You got the Last Supper. You got Judas’ betrayal.”

    Yet even the small moments are impactful, Jenkins says, like when Jesus is by himself, shouldering the agony to come.

    “What he’s thinking about happening in the future, what he’s thinking about happening in the past and what he knows is going to happen this week, it’s got such dramatic weight to it that it feels big, even though it’s just one person,” Jenkins says.

    When will ‘The Chosen: Last Supper’ stream on Amazon?

    Season 5 of “The Chosen” will be available for streaming on Amazon’s Prime Video on June 15

    Watch ‘The Chosen: Last Supper’ Season 5 trailer

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    ‘The Chosen: Last Supper’ trailer: Amazon Prime Video streaming date

    ‘The Chosen: Last Supper’ Season 5 goes to Amazon Prime Video on June 15. Watch the trailer featuring Jesus (Jonathan Roumie).

    The Season 5 trailer features somber Jesus amid the palm-waving jubilation over his arrival. Yet Jesus becomes angered by the desecration of the temple and begins tipping over the merchants’ tables in the holy place while wielding a righteous whip. “You serpents!” Jesus yells. “How will you escape being condemned to hell?”

    Jesus remains calm at the Last Supper, but the tension persists. There are glimpses of the betrayal by Judas (Luke Dimyan), who asks Jesus amid the temple wreckage, “What have you done?”

    Season 6 covers a 24-hour period during which Jesus was nailed to the cross. The series is slated to end with Season 7, the resurrection.